白藜芦醇对离体豚鼠乳头状肌的电生理效应

本文旨在应用标准玻璃微电极技术,观察白藜芦醇对离体豚鼠乳头状肌的电生理效应。结果显示：(1)白藜芦醇(30、60、120μmol／L)可剂量依赖性地缩短乳头状肌细胞的动作电位时程;(2)对部分去极化的乳头状肌,白藜芦醇(60μmol／L)不仅缩短动作电位时程,而且降低动作电位的幅值和超射值,减慢零期最大上升速度;(3)用无钙K-H液灌流标本可完全取消白藜芦醇对乳头状肌细胞的作用：(4)钾通道开放剂四乙基氯化铵(TEA,20mmol／L),不能阻断白藜芦醇的电生理效应;(5)预先应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME(1mmol／L),对白藜芦醇的上述效应无影响。以上结果表明,白藜芦醇可缩短正常乳头状肌细胞动作电位时程,这一效应可能与其抑制钙离子内流有关,但此作用机制中NO的作用并不显著。     

植物性雌激素genistein对豚鼠乳头肌的电生理效应

应用细胞内微电极技术,观察了genistein(GST)对豚鼠乳头肌的电生理效应。结果显示：（1）GST（10-100μmol/L)浓度依赖地缩短正常乳头肌动作电位时程;（2）对部分去极化乳头肌,GST（50μmol/L)除缩短动作电位时程外,还使动作电位幅值和超射值降低,零相最大上升速度减慢;（3）预先应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NNA（5mmol/L)。不影响GST（50μmol/L)的电生理效应;（4）单独应用17β-雌二醇（E2,5μmol/L)或GST（10μmol/L)时,动作电位各参数无明显变化。而预先应用同剂量的GST再加入E2,则动作电位时程缩短,结果提示,GST可能通过非NO途径抑制Ca^2 内流,从而影响豚鼠乳头肌电生理效应,并与E2有加强或协同效应。     

胍基丁胺在离体豚鼠乳头肌的电生理效应

应用细胞内微电极技术,观察了胍基丁胺（ａｇｍａｔｉｎｅ,ＡＧＭ）对豚鼠乳头肌细胞的电生理效应。结果表明：（１）ＡＧＭ浓度依赖地缩短正常乳头肌动作电位的时程;（２）对部分去极化的乳头肌,ＡＧＭ（１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）除缩短动作电位时程外,还抑制动作电位零相最大上升速度,并降低其幅值和超射值;（３）预先应用一氧化氮合酶抑制剂ＬＮＡＭＥ（０５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,不能影响ＡＧＭ（１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的电生理效应;（４）预先应用咪唑啉受体（ｉｍｉｄａｚｏｌｉｎｅｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ,ＩＲ）和α２肾上腺素能受体（ａｌｐｈａ２ａｄｒｅｎｅｒｇｉｃｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ,α２ＡＲ）拮抗剂ｉｄａｚｏｘａｎ（０１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）,则可完全阻断ＡＧＭ（１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）的电生理效应。以上结果提示,ＡＧＭ对乳头肌的电生理效应似由α２ＡＲ和ＩＲ介导,并与胞浆内Ｃａ２＋减少有关。     

白藜芦醇甙对大鼠心室乳头状肌动作电位的影响及其离子机制(英文)

有研究表明白藜芦醇甙(polydatin)具有抗缺血性心律失常作用,但其电生理学机制尚未明了。本研究旨在应用细胞内记录和全细胞膜片钳方法,探讨白藜芦醇甙对大鼠心室乳头状肌动作电位的影响及其离子机制。结果显示:(1)白藜芦醇甙(50和100μmol/L)可剂量依赖性地缩短正常乳头状肌动作电位复极化50%时间(APD50)和90%时间(APD90)(P<0.01)。白藜芦醇甙对正常乳头状肌静息电位(resting potential,RP)、动作电位幅值(amplitude of action potential,APA)、超射值(overshoot,OS)和0期最大上升速度(Vmax)无影响(P>0.05)。(2)对部分去极化的乳头状肌,白藜芦醇甙(50μmol/L)不但缩短APD50和APD90,而且还降低动作电位OS、APA和Vmax(P<0.05)。(3)ATP敏感钾通道阻断剂格列本脲(10μmol/L)可部分阻断白藜芦醇甙(50μmol/L)的电生理效应。(4)一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME(1 mmol/L)对白藜芦醇甙的上述效应无影响。(5)白藜芦醇甙(25、50、75、100μmol/L)可浓度依...     

辣椒素对离体豚鼠乳头状肌的电生理效应

应用细胞内微电极技术,观察了辣椒素(capsaicin,CAP)对豚鼠乳头状肌细胞的电生理效应。结果表明：(1)CAP(30、60、120μmol／L)可浓度依赖地缩短正常乳头状肌的动作电位时程。(2)对部分去极化乳头状肌,CAP(60μmol／L)除缩短动作电位时程外,还使动作电位幅值和超射值降低,零相最大上升速度减慢。(3)预先应用L型钙通道开放剂Bay K8644(0．5μmol／L),则可阻断CAP(60μmol／L)的电生理效应。(4)预先应用辣椒素受体(va-nilloid receptor,VR)阻断剂钌红(20μmol／L),不影响CAP(60μnol／L)的电生理效应。以上结果提示,CAP可能通过非受体途径抑制Ca^2 内流,从而影响豚鼠乳头状肌电生理效应。     

硫化氢对离体豚鼠乳头状肌的电生理效应

应用细胞内微电极技术,观察硫化氢（hydrogen sulfide,H2S）对离体豚鼠乳头状肌细胞的电生理效应。结果表明：（1）NaHS （H,S的供体,50、100、200μmol/L）可浓度依赖地缩短正常乳头状肌的动作电位时程。（2）对部分去极化乳头状肌,NaHS （100μmol／L）除缩短动作电位时程外,还降低动作电位幅值和超射值,减慢零相最大上升速度。（3）预先应用ATP敏感性钾（ATP- sensitive K＋,KATP）通道阻断剂格列苯脲（glibenclamide,Gli,20μmol／L）,可部分阻断NaHS（100μmol／L）的电生理效应。（4）预先应用L型钙通道开放剂Bay K8644（0．5μmol／L）,可部分阻断NaHS（100μmol／L）的电生理效应。（5）预先应用含Gli（20μmol／L）的无钙Krebs-Henseleit液灌流标本,可完全阻断NaHS（100μmol／L）的电生理效应。（6）DL-propargylglycine（PPG,一种胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶的不可逆抑制剂,200μmol／L）可延长正常乳头状肌的动作电位时程。以上结果提示,H,S可能通过兴奋KATP通道促进K＋外流,同时抑制Ca2＋内流,进而影响豚鼠乳头状肌电生理效应。乳头状肌中内源性H2S可能发挥重要的电生理作用。     

Heterogeneous ventricular chamber response to hypokalemia and inward rectifier potassium channel blockade underlies bifurcated T wave in guinea pig

It was previously demonstrated that transmural electrophysiological heterogeneities can inscribe the ECG T wave. However, the bifurcated T wave caused by loss of inward rectifier potassium current (I(K1)) function is not fully explained by transmural heterogeneities. Since right ventricular (RV) guinea pig myocytes have significantly lower I(K1) than left ventricular (LV) myocytes, we hypothesized that the complex ECG can be inscribed by heterogeneous chamber-specific responses to hypokalemia and partial I(K1) blockade. Ratiometric optical action potentials were recorded from the epicardial surface of the RV and LV. BaCl(2) (10 micromol/l) was perfused to partially block I(K1) in isolated guinea pig whole heart preparations. BaCl(2) or hypokalemia alone significantly increased RV basal (RV(B)) action potential duration (APD) by approximately 30% above control compared with LV apical (LV(A)) APD (14%, P<0.05). In the presence of BaCl(2), 2 mmol/l extracellular potassium (hypokalemia) further increased RV(B) APD to a greater extent (31%) than LV(A) APD (19%, P<0.05) compared with BaCl(2) perfusion alone. Maximal dispersion between RV(B) and LV(A) APD increased by 105% (P<0.05), and the QT interval prolonged by 55% (P<0.05) during hypokalemia and BaCl(2). Hypokalemia and BaCl(2) produced an ECG with a double repolarization wave. The first wave (QT1) corresponded to selective depression of apical LV plateau potentials, while the second wave (QT2) corresponded to the latest repolarizing RV(B) myocytes. These data suggest that final repolarization is more sensitive to extracellular potassium changes in regions with reduced I(K1), particularly when I(K1) availability is reduced. Furthermore, underlying I(K1) heterogeneities can potentially contribute to the complex ECG during I(K1) loss of function and hypokalemia.     

Effects of quinidine and lidocaine on action potential and membrane currents of frog ventricles

The effects of quinidine and lidocaine on frog ventricle were studied by using a single sucrose gap voltage clamp technique. In Ca2+-Ringer, quinidine (80 microM) caused slight prolongation of action potential duration (APD50) and significant inhibition of twitch tension. Lidocaine (40 microM) shortened APD50 without significant effect on twitch tension. In tetrodotoxin (TTX)-treated preparations, quinidine caused significant prolongation of APD50 from 529 +/- 19 msec to 597 +/- 11 msec, (n = 9) and inhibition of twitch tension, but lidocaine did not affect APD50 and twitch tension. Under voltage clamp condition, quinidine reduced peak inward current in the absence of TTX, but enhanced peak inward current in the presence of TTX. The steady state outward current was increased by quinidine. Lidocaine didn't affect peak inward current in the absence or in the presence of TTX. Membrane current through the inward rectifier (IK1) was slightly increased by lidocaine, but significantly inhibited by quinidine. The enhancement of peak inward current by quinidine was retarded or reversed in preparation bathed with Sr2+-Ringer. When Ni2+ was added to a preparation bathed in Ca2+-Ringer, an inhibition of calcium inward current and action potential plateau was observed. The spike amplitude of the action potential was, however, unaffected by Ni2+. In this Ni2+-treated preparation, lidocaine (20 microM) caused significant shortening of APD50 without significant effect on action potential amplitude. The shortening of APD50 was associated with a slight increase of steady state outward current. The increase of steady state outward current by lidocaine was absent in the TTX-treated preparation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Role of the Na+-H+ exchanger (NHE1) in heart muscle function during transient acidosis. A study in papillary muscles from rat and guinea pig hearts

The sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) helps the cell to recover from intracellular acidosis. In this study, we have investigated the effect of HOE 642 (a specific NHE1 blocker) on papillary muscles from rats and guinea pigs during transient acidosis and PKC activation by recording developed force (DF), action potential characteristics, and electrical conductance (stimulus-response interval). Two protocols were used, with or without HOE 642 (10(-5) mol/L): papillary muscle was exposed (i) for 15 min to a glucose-free, nonoxygenated HEPES buffer containing lactate (20 mmol/L) (pH 6.8) followed by 15 min recovery or (ii) to a PKC activator (phorbolmyristate acetate (PMA) (10(-9) mol/L)) for 30 min. The DF after acidification remained significantly decreased in the NHE-blocked papillary muscles. During recovery from acidosis, papillary muscles exposed to HOE 642 remained at a higher electrical resistance. The present study shows that post-acidotic continued depression of DF and change in tissue electrophysiological properties might occur as a result of blocking the NHE. During infarct development, the tissue-protecting effect of NHE blockade has been well documented. When acidosis or reduced contractile function is present, however, blocking NHE by HOE 642 might not improve the situation.     

在生理温度下降钙素基因相关肽对豚鼠心房肌复极过程的影响

实验应用常规微电极方法研究了在生理温度下 (36 5± 0 5℃ )降钙素基因相关肽 (calcitoningene relatedpeptide ,CGRP)对豚鼠心房肌细胞复极过程的影响及其与钾电流的关系。结果表明 :(1)CGRP(16nmol/L)可拮抗由钾通道阻断剂BaCl2 、4 AP引起的动作电位时间延长。 (2 )CGRP(16nmol/L)能够增加细胞外高钾 (18 5mmol/L)条件下心房肌慢反应动作电位的APA和Vmax,并缩短传导时间。 (3)CGRP(16nmol/L)能减弱甚至消除因并用CsCl (5mmol/L)和无钾灌流液诱发的触发活动。 (4)CGRP对动作电位复极过程的作用因温度条件而异。在生理温度下 ,CGRP(5、16和 5 0nmol/L)能够使动作电位平台抬高 ,缩短动作电位复极化 2 0 %、5 0 %和 90 %时程。其中 ,对动作电位复极化 2 0 %、5 0 %时程的作用呈剂量依赖性。而在室温下 (2 5 5± 2 1℃ ) ,CGRP使动作电位复极化 2 0 %、5 0 %和90 %时程延长。上述结果提示 ,CGRP对心房肌细胞具有多重电生理效应 ,其中生理温度下CGRP对钾电流的促进作用在动作电位的改变中占重要地位 ,今后有必要进一步研究CGRP对各种钾通道的作用     

Action potential characterization in intact mouse heart: steady-state cycle length dependence and electrical restitution

Transgenic mice have been increasingly utilized to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias, yet the rate dependence of the murine action potential duration and the electrical restitution curve (ERC) remain undefined. In the present study, 21 isolated, Langendorff-perfused, and atrioventricular node-ablated mouse hearts were studied. Left ventricular and left atrial action potentials were recorded using a validated miniaturized monophasic action potential probe. Murine action potentials (AP) were measured at 30, 50, 70, and 90% repolarization (APD(30)-APD(90)) during steady-state pacing and varied coupling intervals to determine ERCs. Murine APD showed rate adaptation as well as restitution properties. The ERC time course differed dramatically between early and late repolarization: APD(30) shortened with increasing S1-S2 intervals, whereas APD(90) was prolonged. When fitted with a monoexponential function, APD(30) reached plateau values significantly faster than APD(90) (tau = 29 +/- 2 vs. 78 +/- 6 ms, P < 0.01, n = 12). The slope of early APD(90) restitution was significantly <1 (0.16 +/- 0.02). Atrial myocardium had shorter final repolarization and significantly faster ERCs that were shifted leftward compared with ventricular myocardium. Recovery kinetics of intracellular Ca(2+) transients recorded from isolated ventricular myocytes at 37 degrees C (tau = 93 +/- 4 ms, n = 18) resembled the APD(90) ERC kinetics. We conclude that mouse myocardium shows AP cycle length dependence and electrical restitution properties that are surprisingly similar to those of larger mammals and humans.     

Influence of glucose on the transmembrane action potential of papillary muscle. Effects of concentration, phlorizin and insulin, nonmetabolizable sugars, and stimulators of glycolysis

The action potential duration (APD) of isolated guinea pig papillary muscle is directly related to the medium glucose concentration regardless of the gas mixture with which it is in equilibrium. The APD can be maintained at control value for many hours by a glucose concentration of 50 mM in the complete absence of oxygen. Following reduction of the APD by incubation of the muscle in medium containing 5 mM glucose, adjustment of the glucose concentration to 50 mM will cause restoration of normal APD. Phlorizin has been shown to competitively interfere with the effect of glucose on the APD and insulin to prevent or reverse the effect of phlorizin. Nonmetabolizable sugars cannot produce glucose-like effects on the APD. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, and isopropylnoradrenaline increased the reduced APD of papillary muscles incubated in the absence of oxygen in a medium containing 5 mM glucose coincident with an increase in contractile force. The effect of isopropylnoradrenaline was blocked by acetylcholine and propranolol. In the presence of iodoacetate and 2-deoxyglucose, isopropylnoradrenaline increased contractile force but not the reduced APD. Aminophylline was found to produce changes in the reduced APD similar to those caused by the sympathomimetic amines. The findings clearly support the hypothesis that anaerobic metabolism utilizing either glycogen or exogenous glucose is capable of maintaining normal transmembrane electrical activity in guinea pig papillary muscle.     

神经递质对豚鼠左心室流出道自律细胞电活动的影响

为研究左心室流出道慢反应自律细胞的神经支配和受体分布,本实验采用标准玻璃微电极细胞内记录技术,分别观测了肾上腺素能和胆碱能受体激动剂及相应的受体拮抗剂对离体豚鼠左心室流出道组织自发慢反应电位的影响。观测指标有：最大舒张电位（maximal diastolic potential,MDP）、动作电位幅度（amplitude of action potential,APA）、0相最大去极速度（maximal rate of depolarization,Vmax）、4相自动去极速度（velocity of diastolic depolarization,VDD）、复极50％时间（50％of duration of action potential,APD50）和90％时间（90％ of duration of action potential,APD50）以及自发放电频率（rate of pacemaker firing,RPF）。结果表明：（1）100μmol／L异丙肾上腺素（isoprenaline,Iso）可使RPF和VDD显著加快（P〈0．01）,MDP绝对值和APA显著增大（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）,Vmax加快（P〈0．05）,APD50缩短（P〈0．01）,这些变化均可被5μmol／L心得安拮抗;（2）100μmol／L肾上腺素（epinephrine,E）可使RPF和VDD加快（P＜0．01,P〈0．05）,APA显著增大（P〈0．001）,Vmax加快（P〈0．05）,APD50和APD90缩短（P＜0．05）;（3）100μmol／L去甲肾上腺素（norepinephrine,NE）可使VDD和RPF加快（P＜0．05）,APA显著增大（P〈0．05）,Vmax明显加快（P〈0．05）,APD50缩短（P〈0．05）,这些变化可被100μmol／L酚妥拉明拮抗;（4）10μmol／L ACh可使VDD和RPF减慢（P〈0．05）,APA显著减小（P〈0．01）,APD50缩短（P〈0．05）;ACh对APD50的缩短效应可被10μmol／L阿托品拮抗（P〈0．05）。结果提示：左心室流出道自律细胞膜上可能存在α-肾上腺素能受体（α-adrenergic receptor,α-AR、β-肾上腺素能受体（β-adrenergic receptor,β-AR）以及M型胆碱能受体（muscarinic receptor,MR）,其自律性电活动可能也接受心交感神经和心迷走神经调控。     

铬对大鼠心电图及心肌细胞的电生理影响

应用心电图及细胞内微电极技术观察铬对心肌电生理的影响。大鼠腹腔内注射铬,９周后心电图显示各剂量组ＱＴ间期均缩短,细胞内微电极检查显示动作电位时程（ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０）于２周后随剂量增加而逐渐缩短,０．４ｍｇ组显著缩短,９周后各剂量组ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０均缩短。心率、静息电位（ＲＰ）与动作电位（ＡＰＡ）幅度及动作电位最大上升速率（Ｖｍａｘ）无变化。铬影响了心肌复极引起ＱＴ间期缩短,而ＡＰＤ５０、ＡＰＤ９０缩短可能是铬影响了钙内流及钾外流的结果。     

Influence of temperature and cyanide on electrical and mechanical activities of isoproterenol-damaged frog heart

The electrical and mechanical activities of myocardial strips from Rana pipiens treated with isoproterenol (ISO) were studied during cyanide hypoxia at different bath temperatures (12, 25 and 35 degrees C). In normal myocardium at 12 degrees C, the action potential duration (APD) was almost unchanged but the isometric force (P) was reduced to about 60% after 30 min in 3 mmol/l NaCN. At 25 degrees C, APD and P decreased to about 80 and 60%, respectively, after exposure to cyanide for 30 min. At 35 degrees C, a fast decrease of APD (to about 30%) and P (to about 10%) was seen within 30 min. In all cases, washout of cyanide interactions was possible. Large effects occurred when ISO-damaged myocardium was exposed to cyanide. During the initial 30 min of CN-treatment, APD and P were significantly reduced in the whole temperature range between 12 and 35 degrees C, when compared with controls. When the cyanide exposure times were long enough, all preparations developed contracture. Increase of the temperature and/or ISO-pretreatment shortened the time-course for resting tension increase. The effects of cyanide on APD and resting tension (RT) were strongly correlated and presumably a result of a cyanide-induced rise of the intracellular free calcium concentration (Ca2+i).     

乙酰胆碱对豚鼠心房肌和心室肌的动作电位和收缩力的不同作用

实验采用标准玻璃微电极细胞内记录技术记录心肌细胞动作电位（action potential,AP）、肌力换能器记录心肌收缩力（force contraction,Fc）,研究乙酰胆碱（acetylcholine,ACh）对离体豚鼠心房肌、心室肌的作用。结果表明,10μmol/L ACh可缩短心房肌、心室肌动作电位的时程（action potential duration,APD）。心房肌APD在给药前后分别为208.57±36.05ms及101.78±14.41ms（n=6,P<0.01）,心室肌APD在给药前后分别为286.73±36.11ms及265.16±30.06 ms（n=6,P<0.01）。心房肌动作电位的幅度（action potential amplitude,APA）也降低,给药前后分别为88.00±9.35 mV及62.62±20.50 mV（n=6,P<0.01）,而心室肌APA无明显变化。ACh还降低心房肌、心室肌的收缩力,心房肌、心室肌Fc的抑制率分别为100％（n=6,P<0.01）和37.57±2.58％（n=6,P<0.01）。ACh对心房肌、心室肌APD和Fc的抑制作用在一定范围内（1nmol/L～100μmol/L）随ACh浓度的增高而增强。用Scott法求出ACh对心房肌、心室肌APD缩短作用的KD值,分别为0.275和0.575μmol/L,对Fc抑制作用的KD值分别为0.135和0.676μmol/L。各浓度下ACh对心房肌效应与心室肌效应作组间t检验,从10nmol/L到0.1mmol/L均有显著的统计学差异。此外,10μmol/L阿托品及20mmol/L     

血小板活化因子对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和钾通道的影响

应用全细胞膜片钳技术研究了血小板活化因子(platelet activatingfactor,PAF)对豚鼠心室肌细胞动作电位和钾电流的影响.结果发现,当电极内液ATP浓度为5 mmol/L(模拟正常条件)时,1 μmol/L PAF使APD90由对照的225.8±23.3 ms延长至352.8±29.8ms(n=5,P＜0.05);使IK尾电流在指令电压 30 mV由对照的173.5±16.7 pA降至152.1±11.5 pA(P＜0.05,n=4);使Ikl在指令电压为-120 mV时由对照组的-6.1±1.3 nA降至-5.6±1.1 nA(P＜0.05,n=5);但PAF在生理膜电位范围(-90mV～ 20mV)对IK1没有影响.当电极内液ATP浓度为0mmol/L时,IK·ATP开放(模拟缺血条件),1 μmol/LPAF却显著缩短APD90,由对照的153±24.6 ms缩短至88.2±19.4 ms(n=5,P＜0.01).而用1 μmol/L格列本脲(IK·ATP的特异阻断剂)预处理后,恢复了PAF可显著延长动作电位时程的作用.结果提示,PAF可能扩大缺血心肌和正常心肌细胞动作电位时程的不均一性,是缺血/再灌注性心律失常发生的重要原因.     

氧自由基致豚鼠心室肌细胞跨膜电位变化的离子电流基础

目的：旨在提示氧自由基参与缺血／再灌注性心委失常发生的离子电流基础。方法：采用膜片钳全细胞式记录技术,观察Ｈ２Ｏ２（１ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ）对豚鼠心室肌细胞跨膜电位和相关离子电流的影响。结果：Ｈ２Ｏ２使豚鼠心肌单细胞的静息电位（ＲＰ）降低,动作电位时程（ＡＳＤ）显著缩短,对动作电位幅度（ＡＰＡ）和超射（ＯＳ）及钠电流的峰值（ＩＮａ）均无明显影响;明显抑制内向整流钾电流（ＩＫ１）,尤其在超极化时;增强延迟外     

Mechanisms and determinants of ultralong action potential duration and slow rate-dependence in cardiac myocytes

In normal cardiac myocytes, the action potential duration (APD) is several hundred milliseconds. However, experimental studies showed that under certain conditions, APD could be excessively long (or ultralong), up to several seconds. Unlike the normal APD, the ultralong APD increases sensitively with pacing cycle length even when the pacing rate is very slow, exhibiting a sensitive slow rate-dependence. In addition, these long action potentials may or may not exhibit early afterdepolarizations (EADs). Although these phenomena are well known, the underlying mechanisms and ionic determinants remain incompletely understood. In this study, computer simulations were performed with a simplified action potential model. Modifications to the L-type calcium current (I(Ca,L)) kinetics and the activation time constant of the delayed rectifier K current were used to investigate their effects on APD. We show that: 1) the ultralong APD and its sensitive slow rate-dependence are determined by the steady-state window and pedestal I(Ca,L) currents and the activation speed and the recovery of the delayed rectifier K current; 2) whether an ultralong action potential exhibits EADs or not depends on the kinetics of I(Ca,L); 3) increasing inward currents elevates the plateau voltage, which in general prolongs APD, however, this can also shorten APD when the APD is already ultralong under certain conditions; and 4) APD alternans occurs at slow pacing rates due to the sensitive slow rate-dependence and the ionic determinants are different from the ones causing APD alternans at fast heart rates.     

Simple experiments to understand the ionic origins and characteristics of the ventricular cardiac action potential

Electrophysiological experiments are helpful for students to understand the role of electrical activity in heart function. Papillary muscle, which belongs to the ventricle, offers the advantage of being easily studied using glass microelectrodes. In addition, there is commercially available software that simulates ventricular electrical activity and can help overcome some difficulties, such as voltage clamp experiments, which need expensive apparatus when used for studies on living preparations. Here, we present a class practical session that is taken by undergraduate students at our University. In the first part of this class, students record action potentials from papillary muscles with the use of glass microelectrodes, and they change extracellular conditions to study the ionic basis of the action potential. In the second part of the class, students simulate action potentials using the Oxsoft Heart model (v. 4.0) and model their previous experiments on papillary muscle to quantify the effects. In particular, the model is very helpful in promoting understanding of the effect that extracellular potassium has on cardiac action potential by simulating voltage clamp experiments. This twin approach of papillary muscle experiments and computer modeling leads to a good understanding of the functioning of the action potential and can help introduce discussion of some abnormal cardiac functioning.